Couldn't help but think of you folks when seeing and hearing of the horrible fires you're having. Hope this message finds you and your families safe and sound.

Thanks for the thoughts Stoneaxe. I'm in Victoria and drove down to our place near Wilsons Promontory today (which looking out the window as I write this is on fire), stopping in one of the towns on the way down there was this feeling of heavy grimness coming from the locals. Then later I was in the supermarket and overheard a very pregnant young woman quietly talking in one of the ailes saying that they hadn't heard anything yet but were still hopeful...

Friend of my mothers drove into Kinglake looking for his 78 yo dad living on his own on his property, amazingly the old man was alive but everything gone, house, sheds, fences, farm animals, pets. On the way there he drove past burnt out cars with bodies still in them.

Makes me wonder how anyone survives year after year in a war zone like Iraq or Afghanistan without coming completely unhinged. Gotta feel sorry for the fireman, police and volunteers being the first on the scene to witness this horror firsthand.

Better be pretty thankful for the fact that we can just jump in the car and go for a paddle.

onya Paul

mac

I think everyone in Victoria and a lot of Australians will have stories to tell about this horrific situation whether its through personal experience, family and friends being victims or family and friends being involved in the fire fighting/relief/cleanup effort.

Just in the office I work in two lots of workmates parents have managed to stay safe and save their homes but have lost livestock, crops, farming equipment garages, cars etc. while watching heartbroken unable to help their neighbours as their homes burn down.

My brother is a firey and is up in one of the worst hit areas at the moment helping the investigators go through and a good mate is a copper also up there at the moment.

Our hearts go out to all the victims.

Thoughts and prayers on the way. Man, it just breaks my heart to hear of natural distasters wiping out farms. Those people work so hard to keep things in order. To have it swept away in such a painful manner is just terrible.

On a positive note, if anyone is capable of turning it around and rebuilding, country folk can.

In an attempt to wrap my head around the land that has been burned:

450,000 hectares is equal to 2700 sq km (1700 sq mi)
Which is a square 68km on a side. (42 mi)
Or a circle of 235 km. (146 mi)

This would cover Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Wildlife experts are estimating a million animals lost.